Understanding adult attachment in family relationships : research, assessment, and intervention

Attachment theory has become a key focus of both research and practice in understanding and treating psychological and social risk for marital and relationship problems, parenting and clinical disorders. In particular, adult attachment style is a key explanatory factor for understanding problems in human relationships. This practical book introduces and explains an easily accessible assessment tool for adult attachment style, the Attachment Style Interview (ASI). Based on extensive research study, it discusses appropriate interventions and case assessments that can be made to help families in need. Simpler than the Adult Attachment Interview, which requires expert administration, the ASI is an invaluable and evidence-based resource. Presenting clear and concise descriptions of the measure and summaries of the attachment models developed, this text provides discussions of its relevance for different practice contexts, and uses a range of worked case studies to illustrate its principles and applications. It details attachment issues in different relationship domains to cover areas of risk and resilience relevant for practice such as: Adult depression and anxiety and stress models Partner difficulties including domestic violence Childhood neglect and abuse as a source of attachment problems Parenting and intergenerational transmission of risk Interventions, service application and use in family therapy. Understanding Adult Attachment in Family Relationships provides an important reference for all practitioners working with children, adolescents and families, especially those undertaking further study. Cover Understanding Adult Attachment in Family Relationships Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgements Dedication A research note Ten key findings Chapter 1: Introduction to attachment 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background to attachment theory 1.2 Outlining adult attachment styles 1.3 Attachment style and psychological disorder 1.4 Attachment style and the self 1.5 Attachment style and stress 1.6 Attachment style, partner relationships and support 1.7 Attachment style and parenting 1.8 Attachment style and childhood experience 1.9 A social and lifespan approach 1.10 Attachment and biological processes 1.11 Attachment style and resilience 1.12 Attachment interventions and psychotherapy 1.13 Discussion Chapter 2: Assessing attachment styles in adults 2.0 Introduction 2.1 Self-report attachment measures 2.2 The Adult Attachment Interview and related tools 2.2.1 Comparison of measures 2.3 The Attachment Style Interview 2.3.1 Case example: Secure attachment style 2.3.1.1 Secure Susan 2.3.2 The Attachment Style Interview – Support 2.3.3 The Attachment Style Interview – Attachment Attitudes 2.3.4 Attachment Style Interview Overall attachment styles 2.4 Case examples 2.4.2 Ellie’s Moderately Enmeshed style 2.4.3 Fiona’s moderately Fearful style 2.4.4 Alexa’s markedly Angry dismissive style 2.4.5 Whitney’s moderately Withdrawn style 2.4.6 Deirdre’s Dual Angry-dismissive and Enmeshed style 2.5 Attachment style and reporting at interview 2.6 Discussion Note Chapter 3: Adult attachment style, stress and disorder 3.0 Introduction 3.1 Prevalence of Insecure attachment style 3.2 Insecure attachment style and emotional disorder 3.2.3 Insecure attachment style and experience of stress 3.3 The London studies 3.3.1 Attachment Style prevalence in London women 3.3.2 Demographic factors 3.3.2 Attachment Style Interview and adult lifetime adversity 3.3.3 Attachment Style Interview and severe life events 3.3.4 Coping with adversity 3.3.5 Attachment Style Interview and depression in the London women 3.3.6 Lifetime depression 3.3.7 Attachment Style Interview and new onset of emotional disorder 3.4 Case examples 3.4.1 Ellie – Moderately Enmeshed style and onset depression 3.4.2 Fiona – Moderately Fearful – onset depression and anxiety 3.4.3 Alexa: Markedly Angry dismissive with Generalised Anxiety Disorder 3.4.4 Deirdre’s Dual (Angry-dismissive and Enmeshed style) and her anxiety disorder 3.5 Attachment Style Interview and disorder in the London offspring 3.6.1 Felicity’s moderately Fearful attachment style and depression with self-harm 3.6.2 Dean’s Dual/disorganised style and substance abuse 3.7 Discussion Chapter 4: Relationships and self-esteem 4.0 Introduction 4.1 Background 4.2 Support 4.3 Domestic violence 4.4 Self-esteem 4.5 The London study findings 4.5.1 Very Close Other support 4.5.2 Partner relationships 4.5.3 Problem partners 4.5.4 Negative Evaluation of Self 4.6 Case examples 4.6.1 Alma’s Moderately Angry-dismissive style 4.6.2 Ellie’s moderately Enmeshed style 4.6.3 Donna’s Dual/disorganised attachment style 4.6.4 Eric’s moderately Enmeshed style 4.7 Discussion Chapter 5: Attachment style and childhood experience 5.0 Introduction 5.1 Maltreatment and trauma in childhood 5.2 Researching childhood experience 5.3 Measuring childhood experience: The Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Interview (CECA) 5.4 Findings of the London studies 5.4.1 Type of childhood adversity and attachment style 5.4.2 Mediation analysis 5.5 Case examples – adult women 5.5.1 Eloise’s moderate Enmeshed style and Lack of Care from mother 5.5.2 Faye’s moderately Fearful attachment style and childhood lack of care and physical abuse 5.5.3 Alma’s moderately Angry-dismissive style and childhood psychological abuse 5.6 Childhood experience in young people 5.6.1 Self-esteem 5.6.2 Teenage peer group 5.7 Case examples – Offspring sample 5.7.1 Dean’s Dual/disorganised attachment style, and childhood Lack of Care and Abuse 5.8 Discussion Chapter 6: Parenting and attachment style 6.0 Introduction 6.1 Partner, couples and family systems 6.2 Two London intergenerational studies 6.2.1 Representative and high-risk groups combined 6.2.2 Attachment style and intergenerational study 6.2.3 An attachment model of intergenerational transmission: 6.3 Case examples – mother and offspring 6.3.1 Alma’s Angry-dismissive attachment style and parenting 6.3.2 Daughter Felicity’s Fearful attachment style: 6.3.3 Wendy’s Withdrawn attachment style, changed to Angry dismissive style and her parenting 6.3.4 Daughter Donna’s Dual/disorganised style 6.4 Discussion Chapter 7: Resilience 7.0 Introduction 7.1 Achieving Security despite adversity 7.2 Positive changes in adult attachment style 7.3 ‘Earned’ security 7.4 Research findings in the London studies 7.4.1 Confirming Secure style as resilient against disorder 7.4.2 Positive childhood correlates of Secure style 7.4.3 Positive adolescent experiences and Secure attachment in the Offspring sample 7.4.4 Secure attachment style and resilience against depression 7.5 Case examples 7.5.1 Sheila’s Secure style – her childhood school attainment and social involvement 7.5.2 Ethan’s mildly Enmeshed style and high self-esteem 7.6 Withdrawn attachment style category as resilience factor 7.6.1 Whitney’s Moderately Withdrawn style and resilience 7.7 Attachment change 7.7.1 Eloise’s Moderately Enmeshed style changes to Secure 7.8 Discussion Chapter 8: Attachment-based interventions and services 8.0 Introduction 8.1 Family support/children in need 8.2 Working therapeutically 8.3 Interventions for families 8.3.1 Couple Therapy 8.3.2 Emotionally Focused Family Therapy 8.3.3 Attachment Focused Family Therapy 8.3.4 Filial Therapy 8.3.5 Mentalising-Based Therapy 8.4 Families in stressful and adverse circumstances 8.4.1 Attachment and parenting sensitivity 8.4.2 Attachment and Bio-behavioural Catch-up (ABC) 8.4.3 Multidimensional Therapeutic Foster Care (MTFC) 8.6 Discussion Chapter 9: Attachment Style Interview use in child and family services 9.0 Introduction 9.1 Attachment Style Interview assessment in prospective adoption or foster parents 9.2.1 Adopting Daisy – parents’ anxious styles 9.3 Attachment and child safeguarding services 9.3.1 Fern’s anxious and David’s Dual/disorganised attachment styles – a child protection issue 9.3.2 Confirming custody arrangements – Father’s markedly Withdrawn style 9.4 Attachment and residential care 9.4.1 The Attachment Style Interview in residential care 9.4.2 Darren in residential care, his Dual/disorganised style 9.5 Discussion Note Chapter 10: Attachment style and family dynamics 10.0 Introduction 10.1 Assessments in therapy 10.1.1 Attachment-style assessment 10.1.2 The Filial Therapy approach 10.1.3 Identifying parental Insecure attachment style 10.2 Case examples 10.2.1 Mother Daphne’s Dual/disorganised style and alcohol abuse 10.2.2 Mother Debbie’s Dual/disorganised attachment style, her Depression and Anxiety 10.2.3 Freddy’s developmental impairment; mother Faith’s Fearful style and depression 10.3 Presentation of attachment style to therapist 10.3.1 Amy living with Enmeshed mother Eleanor 10.3.2 Milo Living with Angry and Avoidant parents 10.3.3 Louis living with two Fearful parents 10.4 Discussion Chapter 11: Conclusion 11.0 Introduction 11.1 Ten key findings 11.2 Study limitations 11.3 Attachment models 11.3.1 Lifespan model 11.3.2 An interactive adult attachment model Secure style Withdrawn style Enmeshed style Fearful style Angry-dismissive style Dual or disorganised style 11.3.3 Intergenerational models 11.4 The importance of Fear and Anger in attachment 11.5 Attachment style in parents and child disorders 11.5.1 Attachment, child development and education 11.6 Attachment style in child and family services 11.6.1 Matching for adoption 11.6.2 Working with the different styles 11.6.3 Feedback to clients 11.7 New opportunities for clinical assessment 11.8 Conclusion Appendix 1: The research sample A1.1 Sample 1 – Adult Risk sample (n=105) A1.2 Sample 1A – Childhood Risk sample (n=198) A1.3 Sample 2 – Follow-up midlife women (n=154) A1.4 Sample 3 – Mother–offspring dyads (146) A1.5 Sample 4 – Offspring sample (n=146) Appendix 2: Summary of research case examples References Index "This practical book introduces and explains an easily accessible assessment tool for adult attachment style, the Attachment Style Interview (ASI). Based on extensive research study, it discusses appropriate interventions and case assessments that can be made to help families in need. Simpler than the Adult Attachment Interview, which requires expert administration, the ASI is an invaluable and evidence-based resource and is particularly useful for multi-agency practitioners working with children and families, including those in adoption and fostering, child safeguarding and therapeutic services. Presenting clear and concise descriptions of the measure and summaries of the attachment models developed, it provides discussions of its relevance for different practice contexts. This text uses a range of worked case studies to illustrate its principles and applications. It details attachment issues in different relationship domains to cover areas of risk and resilience relevant for practice such as: adult depression and anxiety and stress models, partner difficulties including domestic violence, childhood neglect and abuse as a source of attachment problems, parenting and intergenerational transmission of risk, resilience factors, interventions, service application and use in family therapy. Understanding Adult Attachment in Family Relationships provides an important reference for all practitioners working with children, adolescents and families, especially those undertaking further study"--Provided by publisher. "This practical book introduces and explains an easily accessible assessment tool for adult attachment style, the Attachment Style Interview (ASI). Based on extensive research study, it discusses appropriate interventions and case assessments that can be made to help families in need. Simpler than the Adult Attachment Interview, which requires expert administration, the ASI is an invaluable and evidence-based resource and is particularly useful for multi-agency practitioners working with children and families, including those in adoption and fostering, child safeguarding and therapeutic services. Presenting clear and concise descriptions of the measure and summaries of the attachment models developed, it provides discussions of its relevance for different practice contexts. This text uses a range of worked case studies to illustrate its principles and applications. It details attachment issues in different relationship domains to cover areas of risk and resilience relevant for practice such as: adult depression and anxiety and stress models, partner difficulties including domestic violence, childhood neglect and abuse as a source of attachment problems, parenting and intergenerational transmission of risk, resilience factors, interventions, service application and use in family therapy. Understanding Adult Attachment in Family Relationships provides an important reference for all practitioners working with children, adolescents and families, especially those undertaking further study"--Résumé de l'éditeur